Masonry Magazine August 2014 Page. 32
MAS5308_August2014_MAS 7/22/14 10:14 AM Page 30
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MAST CLIMBERS
Five-Point Safety Checklist
power option. If you are building new con�struction projects where power might not be readily available, gas or diesel engines might Hyd~obile's Kevin O'Shea offers a five-point checklist for contractors in the be that the answer. Ifyou are doing confined market for used mast climbers: space work in an elevator shaft, for example,
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Request service records. (You are entitled to the last annual
it's pretty obvious that gas power might pre�
inspection paperwork, the operators, maintenance and parts
sent a number of issues:'
manuals and the ANSI manual of responsibilities.)
In terms by which components are most likely to need attention over the life ofequip�Contact the manufacturer for product updates and ensure they
2
ment, the experts sayit's likelyto be the motor, were done. hydraulic cylinders or pumps. Yet, they say,
Check for fabrication work. If there is evidence of this type of
parts and service for used mast climbers-even
work, check the welder's certification. Go a step further and
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discontinued machines-are outthere.
ask the manufacturer for an opinion on the repair.
"Generally speaking, manufacturers still service discontinued equipment," says Pitt. Ask the seller for evidence that the equipment has been
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"There are some companies no longer oper�inspected and maintained by qualified personnel. ating, so there would be no support for that
Buy from a recognized dealer or manufacturer.
equipment, but most of the equipment
5
around today is so similar you can still get the hardware:'
Pitt points to HEK as an example, saying support is still Hydro-Mobile's O'Shea adds thatOEM equipment,however, is available for its equipment made in the 1980s. Most compo�preferred. "I give the same advice to potentialbuyers ofnon-OEM nents, he says, are available off the shelf "Most electrical com�parts,'If you are replacing safety-related parts, or components that ponents on these machines are nothing special, and there is contnbute to providing stability at height, think OEM:When you're very little OEM equipment on these units that you can't buy busylaying block 100feet in the air, you need to use equipment that from equivalent suppliers;' he says. has been designed and testedbythe manufacturer."
Don't go it alone
WHEN BUYJNG used mast climbers, NEMCs Marcantoni advises contractors to ask about the dealers pre-sales rehab pro�cedures and, of course, the company's warranty. For its part, NEMC strips down each unit before it's sold, changing out all worn parts, as well as sandblasting and repainting the equipment. The company then fits all decks with new Wisa-Hexa wood NEMC also provides a six-month warranty on allused units sold
Availability of components is only one aspect ofmaintain�ing used equipment Safety, too, is a major factor for contrac�tors (see sidebar "Five-Point Safety Checklist").
Most of the experts agree that it is important to buy from a recogniz.ed dealer or manufacturer. And, not surprisingly, man�ufacturers are warm to the idea of used sales, making them
When it comes to jobsite safety, your workers deserve the best! kee11 sellers. "Manufacturers know that used sales will often precede new
Laminated Veneer �OSHA Recognized
sales:'says Pitt. "If a contractor likes the used equipment they
Lumber
�Third Party Inspection
purchase, they are more likely to stay with that brand, especial�
�Master Plank Spruce �Proof Tested & Stamped
ly if they get good service:'
�Duralam Doug. Fir �Readily Available
�Red
Plank Doug. Fir The key to locating and buying used equipment that will
�Dl-65
Pine provide financial returns, live a long life and provide a safe Solid Sawn 800 365 9663 work environment appears to be working alongside the
�Pine
MSR Dl-65 www.mccausey.com experts. O'Shea sums it up well: "Don't buy used equipment �Fir 171 B
without getting expert advice. If you make the decision alone, alone is exactly what you will be in the process of defending yourself should an accident occur:' IMAS
4\ MCCAUSEY
Kelly Moore is a freelance writer and content marketing
Specialty Products
strategist based in Des Moines, Iowa. She can be reached at kelly@kellymooreconsulting.com.
30 MASONRY � August 2014 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry